Rotary printing press with movable transfer cylinder



July 27, 1965 c. L. HORNBERGER ETAL 3,196,736

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1963 INVENTORSZ CLARENCE L. HORNBERGER EDWARD W. STANL EY ATTYS.

July 27, 1965 c. HORNBERGER ETAL 3,196,785

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER Filed April 5, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet Z FIGZ.

INVENTORS.

CLARENCE 1.. HORNBERGER EDWARD w. STANLEY W4W ATTYS' c. L. HORNBERGER ETAL 3,196,786

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER July 27, 1965 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1963 INVENTORS:

CLARENCE L. HORNBE EDWARD W. STA

y 1965 c. L. HORNBERGER ETAL 3,196,736

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER Filed April 5, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 .fiRY R [E 06L TRN 3% M W 0 7 Ow. LN m H 7, 2 8 7 D 8 ad 6 NE W L a a w u E K R S A A w 3 M L Y J A 1 C V a JQ m m M 3 M 9 7 N y 9 w E a 2 y p T r z z 3 5 86 r n As UN k a I m mflm an w M, E m WLMI m Flu R 4 M 5m F 6 ATTYS y 1965 c. HORNBERGER ETAL 3, ,7

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER Filed April 5, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 'FIG. IO.

BORDER 94 a I 93 v 2/7 Egg 2 4/ 20 FIG I I. 4 A 8 0 I i J0 REGULAR 99 M0 :7:

7 P 105' m6 2: I $1 94 93 INVENTORSZ CLARENCE L. HORNBERGER By EDWARD W. STANLEY ATTYVSI July 27,1965 c, L. HORNBERGER ETAL 3,196,786

ROTAfiY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER med April 5, 1963 a sums-sheet v.

FIG] 2, 22

a! I Lg fiEU -AR RIM! - Id/ 1104/ I 92 FIGIS.

Mow/v6 1 Y INVENTOIiS: 9P2 CLARENCE .L. HORNBERGLR EDWARD W. STANLEY ATTYS,

y 1965 c. L. HORNBER-GER ETAL 3,196,786

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS WITH MOVABLE TRANSFER CYLINDER Filed April 5, 1963 I 8 Sheets-Sheet. 8

FIG. l3,

INVENTORS:

CLARENCE L. HORNBERGER EDWARD W. STANLEY WW ATTYS' United States Patent 3,196,786 RQTARY PRINTTNG PRESS WHTH MQVABILE TRANSFER CYLINDER Clarenee L. Hornberger and Edward W. Stanley, Lancaster, 11 21., assignors to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pin, a corpnration of Pennsylvania Fiied Apr. 5, i963, Ser. No. 276,870 Claims. (til. 101-454) This invention relates to a rotary printing press, especially adapted for printing floor coverings, more partic ularly for printing the cross border portion of a peripheral border design, on felt base rugs, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

In a copending application of the present applicants and others, Serial No. 134,606, filed August 29, 1961, now Patent No. 3,099,956, Aug. 6, 1963 and assigned to a common assignee, there is disclosed a rotary printing press system comprising a plurality of rotary presses for printing multi-color designs on felt base rugs. The present invention is related particularly to the provision of means on one or more of these presses or press stands to adapt it for a special form of skip printing, as for printing cross borders on rugs which have their multicolor field design and end borders printed by other presses or press stands in the system or line.

In printing multi-color designs on a line of press stands it is most important and, indeed indispensable for acceptable production, that the areas printed by successive press stands shall be in precise and exact registry with areas printed by other press stands. The copending application discloses improved means and adjustments for achieving such exact registry, both longitudinally and transversely of the advancing web of material being printed. The present invention is based upon the use of the system and press improvements disclosed in that application.

Each press stand in the system of printing apparatus disclosed in the copending application, which is known as the offset rotogravure system, involves the use of three cooperating rolls or cylinders which are geared to rotate in exact unison with each other. The first roll of this group, considering the order of ink application, is the engraved or plate roll which picks up a coating of ink on the exposed design surface, suitable associated equipment such as a doctor, etc., being employed in known manner to assure the proper application of ink to the engraved roll. The second roll is the offset or ink transfer roll, also referred to as the blanket roll, which takes off the ink coating from the engraved roll and transfers it to the web of material to be printed. The third roll is the impression or backing roll which supports thereon the web which receives the ink coating from the offset roll.

In printing cross borders and in similar skip-printing work it is necessary to periodically articulate, i.e., raise or lower, the offset roll relative to the engraved and printing rolls, either separately or together. The 00- pending application discloses means for separating and re-engaging the offset roll while at all times, through suitable flexible drive means, keeping all of the three rolls rotating exactly in unison so that the circumferential points of separation and re-engagement will always be exact for precise registry.

The shifting of the offset roll is accomplished by mechanical means, which requires an appreciable amount of time to act, and this, in high speed printing, may considerably limit the printing speed. The distance of separation of the rolls, therefore, becomes an important factor in the ultimate printing speed, and this makes it highly desirable to keep the distance of roll separation to a minimum. Furthermore, a larger spatial separation causes greater impact between rolls when they are re- 3 ,196,736 Patented July 27, 1965 engaged, with consequent greater damage to roll surfaces and printing quality.

Another consideration is that the flexible shaft drive experiences greater strains and wear as the distance of roll separation and consequent angularity of flexible shaft drive increases. I

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to reduce the distance of separation between rolls for printing cross borders.

Another object is to provide means for readily shifting the offset roll selectively relative to either the engraved roll or the impression roll.

Another object is to provide improved means for shifting the offset roll from both the engaved roll and the impression roll at the same time.

Another object is to provide control means for the roll shifting means which provides a greater range of control and makes practical the printing of cross borders at shorter intervals than has been practicable heretofore.

To give a concrete idea of this situation, it may be assumed that the circumference of each of the rolls of a set of three rolls of a rug printing stand is 4 /2feet. This means that a pattern will repeat for every 4 /2 feet along the length of the web to make rugs of a length of 4% feet or multiples of this length. Assume that a cross border 7 /2 inches wide is .to be printed on each end of a rug 4% feet long. The rolls can have a design 15 inches Wide at one location thereon to print a cross border 15 inches wide which, when the rugs are cut apart, will give a 7 /2 inch cross border at both ends of each rug. Assume that the printing rolls are 12 feet long and that other printing rolls will print longitudinal borders 7 /2 inches wide at the ends and a double longitudinal border which is 15 inches wide at the center, there will be produced rugs which are 4 /2 feet long and 6 feet wide (referring to dimensions on the rolls and web) with a 7 /2 inch border all around.

To make a 9 x 12' rug with a 7 /2 border all around, it will obviously be necessary to shift the offset roll so that its single 15 cross border will make an impression on the web only at every other revolution.

It is sometimes desirable to make rugs which are less than 4 /2 long. By providing two cross border imprints on the 4 /2 circumference rolls it is possible to print rugs 2% (2'-3) long and by suitable skip printing to make rugs of multiples of this length, say 4 /2, 6%, 9', 11%, 13%., and so on. No further attention need be given to the cross-web dimensions (width) of the rug units or of the longitudinal border printing since these are controlled by the longitudinal printing roll stands with which the present invention is not concerned.

The above and other objects of the invention, as well as various features of novelty and advantages, will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a roll stand embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 1 but more diagrammatic in nature, showing the position of parts while the rolls are idling;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but with the parts in position for normal printing, as for piece goods, where the full circumference of the rolls is used;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2 but with the parts in a first stage of skip cross border printing;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4 but showing the offset roll in contact with the engraved roll for inking;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 4 but showing the offset roll in contact with the web on the impression roll for printing;

FIG. 7 is a schematic piping and wiring diagram showing parts in the stage of a regular printing cycle corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 but showing the parts in a position corresponding to that of FIG. 3 for regular printing;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 7 but showing the parts in a preparatory stage for border skip printing;

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 7 but showing the parts in a second preparatory stage for border skip printing;

FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 7 but showing the parts in a third preparatory stage for border skip printing, the position corresponding to that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 7 but showing the parts in the first active or inking stage for border skip printing, the position corresponding to that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement for printing cross borders Where one cross border is formed for a complete revolution of the rolls;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement for printing cross borders Where two cross borders can be formed at a complete revolution of the rolls;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a timing signal plate.

The roll stand, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises an engraved roll 21 an offset roll 21 and a web-supporting impression roll 22. The engraved roll and the impression roll are mounted in a fixed position, although all rolls can readily be freed for lifting out by a crane; and the offset roll is articulated or mounted for movement toward and from the engraved and impression rolls.

The engraved roll is provided with journals or trunnions 23 at its ends, one being shown, supported in bearings 24 of the main roll stand frame 25. Suitable means, not shown, are provided for coating the engraved surface with ink and removing the excess, as explained in the copending application referred to.

The impression roll 22 has journals or trunnions 26 mounted in bearings 27. The bearing 27 at each end, for reasons fully explained in the copending application, is mounted on an arm 28 pivoted at its lower end on the main frame at a journal 29 and adjusted at the upper end, as by a pin 30 movable in a slot 31 of a member 32, the pin being moved by the cam surface 33 of a cam arm 34 turnably mounted on a fixed pivot shaft 35.

The web W which is to be imprinted passes up over the impression roll 22, being fed up from below over a tension adjusting roll 37 mounted on an arm 38 pivoted at 39 and adjusted by a fluid power device 40.

At each end the offset roll 21 has a journal or trunnion 41 supported in a bearing 42 and a bearing is supported on a cradle 43 for various controlled movements with which the present invention is especially concerned.

At one end, the left in FIG. 1, the cradle 43 is mounted on a pivot shaft 44 carried by an arm 45 which is turnably mounted on the same pivot shaft as the cam arm 34. The axis of the pivot shaft 44 is thereby made to be translatable from one position to another.

The arm also carries a bearing 46 for the journal 47 of a blotter roll 48, a slot 49 being provided in the main frame to accommodate the journal movements.

Controllable power motor means are provided for moving the arm 45 for turning movement about the axis of the shaft 35, the means here provided being a fluid motor 56 comprising a cylinder, designated by the same number, pivoted on a hinge pin 51 carried by a fixed mount 52 and having a piston rod 53 connected to the arm 45 by a pivot pin 54.

From a consideration of the parts thus far described, it may be seen that when the power device acts on the arm 45 it will turn it about its hinge point, i.e., the axis of the shaft 35, and this movement will cause the pivot shaft 44 at one end of the cradle 43 to describe an are about the axis of shaft 35. This movement of the cradle will separate the offset roll 21 from the impression roll 22 and tend to pull the offset roll away from the engraved roll 20 but a small movement of pivot shaft 44 does not separate the offset roll from the engraved roll.

The other end of the cradle 43 is bifurcated or slotted so as to have an upper finger 55 and a lower finger 56 embracing the upper and lower flat sides of a guide sleeve, bushing, or shoe 57 which is turna'bly mounted on an eccentric pin 58 of an eccentric shaft 59 mounted in the main frame.

The sleeve or shoe 57 may be moved up or down by moving the eccentric pin 58 up or down and this may be done by turning the eccentric shaft 59 in its bearings. For this purpose the shaft 59 is provided with an arm 69 adapted to be turned by suitable adjusting means.

The means for turning the eccentric shaft arm 60 to set for different adjusted pressure positions of the offset roll 21 against the engraved roll 20 comprises a bellcrank lever 65 turnably mounted on a stub shaft 66 secured on the main frame. One arm 65a of the bellcrank lever 65 is provided with a pin-and-slot connection, designated as 67, with the end of the eccentric arm 60 and the other arm 65b is provided with a pivot connection 68 for an adjusting rod 69 which is moved and set in different positions by means which are fully described in the copending application.

Means are provided for limiting the upward movement of the arm 45 carrying the cradle pivot 44, the means here shown comprising an adjustable stop element in the form of a lockable set screw 7f), carried by an extension 45a of the arm 45, which engages some convenient fixed stop abutment, such for example, as a sleeve 71 mounted on the stub shaft 66.

Adjustable means are provided for limiting the downward movement of the arm 45, the means are shown comprising a lever 73 mounted on the stub shaft 66, the lever having an arm 73a carrying a stop abutment surface 74 adapted to be engaged by a lockable set screw 75 carried by a projection 45b of the arm 45. The other arm 73b of the lever 73 is provided with a pivot connection 76 for an adjusting rod 77 which is adjusted by suitable means, as fully described in the copending application.

The organization as thus far described is that of the copending application. Initially, in the interest of shorter and faster movement of the offset roll to accommodate for higher press roll speeds, the adjustment screw 70 is made longer to limit the outward movement of the offset roll. In the original arrangement the movement was such as to provide a separation of about at the nip I-O between the impression and offset rolls and a separation of about at the nip E-O between the engraved and offset rolls. This condition is shown in FIG. 2. By adjustment of the screw 70 the opening in the impression offset nip I-O can be cut down to about W while still providing separation at the engraved-offset nip E-O of about 4, which is about the minimum safe operating space at the nip E-O. This is achieved solely by movement of the cradle pivot 44 by turning the arm 45 by the power motor 50.

This reduced movement of articulation contributes to smoother operation, less impact against stops, less wear in the roll shaft coupling and less time for action. The total time for articulating the offset cylinder is fixed as a function of response of the various components and does not vary with press speeds. Hence for increased press speeds and shorter spacings between cross borders which are desired, the present invention makes a number of modification to the existing equipment, as will now be described;

While these improvements are provided for the desired special purposes, they are designed to be fully compatible with the existing equipment and of such a nature that there may be a quick selective reversion to the original type of operation.

As a first departure, it is arranged that the offset roll 21 may be separately and independently articulated relative to the engraved roll 20. This is done by providing separate controllable power motor means for moving the other (right hand) end of the cradle 43 up and down.

To permit of this independent movement of the right hand end of the cradle 43, a clearance space is provided between the lower finger 50 of the cradle and the bottom surface of the guide sleeve or shoe 57. For a concrete example, this bottom clearance or lost motion space may be about A".

The lower finger 56 is provided with a projection 56a and to this projection there is secured, as by a pivot pin 80, an operating link 81, the link at its lower end being connected, as by a pivot pin 82, to an arm 83a of a bellcrank lever 83 turnably mounted on a fixed pivot pin 84 carried by the main frame.

The other arm 83b of the bellcrank lever 83 is connected by a pivot pin 35 to a clevis member 86 adjustably secured, as by screw threads, to the end of a piston rod 87 of an auxiliary fluid power motor 88. The cylintier of the motor 88, designated by the same number 88, is turnably secured to the main frame by a pivot pin 89.

It is arranged, by the adjustable clevis member 86, that the upper finger 55 always comes to rest on the top surface of the shoe 57; that is, the piston in the cylinder 88 never bottoms on the instroke (toward the head end) but always bottoms on the outstroke (toward the rod end), the point of stoppage and the extent of lift of he right end of the cradle 43 being established by the adjustment of the clevis 86.

The relationships are such that by action of the auxiliary fluid motor 88 alone, and without any action by the main or primary motor 50, the offset roll 21 may be moved or articulated relative to the engraved roll 21 to open the space E-O between the rolls by about Movement of the cradle 43 about the pivot point 44 does not change the contact relationship between the oitset and impression rolls at the nip I-O because the pivot point 44 is located very near the nip. For a similar reason, very limited turning of the cradle 43 about the pivot point of the axis of the eccentric pin 58 does not change the relationship between the engraded and oifset rolls at the nip E-O because the axis of pin 58 is located very near the nip between these rolls. It is only the swinging movement of the point 44- about the remote axis 35 that, in continued movement, causes the finger 55 to slide back on the shoe 57 and the oiiset roll to pull away from the engraved roll.

FIG. 7 shows additional auxiliary equipment which has been provided by the present invention. Here, as in other views, only one end of the rolls is shown but it will be understood that the other end of the offset roll is moved by duplicate means provided there so as to exactly match the movements at the end which is shown.

There is an auxiliary cylinder 92 having a piston 93 therein with a rod 94 of appreciable size to make a significant diflerence in efifective area between the head end and the rod end. An adjustable stop collar 95 is provided on the rod 94 to limit its inward movement and thereby to limit the length and capacity of the cylinder space on the rod end side of the piston In effect the cylinder 92 acts to shorten the stroke of the piston of the main power motor 50 much like the action obtainable by adjusting the screw 70 but secures the change in action automatically without requirinfitoppage of operations as would be required to re-set the screw 70.

A flow reversing control valve 96, operated by a, solenoid 97, is provided for the main power cylinder 50; and a how reversing control valve 98, operated by a solenoid 99, is provided for the auxiliary power cylinder 88.

The rod-end space of the auxiliary cylinder 92 is interposed in the rod-end fluid line 100 of the main power cylinder 50, a fluid line 101 being provided between the head end of the cylinder 92 and the reversing valve 96. Between the fluid lines 100 and 101 there are provided a spring-loaded check valve 102 opening toward 1ine'100 and a cut-0E valve 103 operated by a solenoid 104.

A fluid line 105 connects the head end of the main power cylinder 50 with the reversing valve 96. 'Fluid lines 106 and 107 connect the head end and rod end,

respectively, of the auxiliary power cylinder 88 with the reversing valve 98.

A press run switch S1 is provided to control the entire sub-circuit here shown, this switch directly controlling the solenoid 104 of the valve 103 so as to move it from its normally open position and close it. A switch S2, which is normally open for regular printing, may be closed by a selective gang operator 110 when border printing is desired.

The switch S2 is in series with the switch S1 and an inking control counter switch S3 in a line to the solenoid 99 of the reversing valve 98 which controls the auxiliary fluid motor 88. The switch S3 is controlled by a counter which is tied in with the rotation of the offset roll 21 and controls the engagement of the offset roll with the engraved roll for transferring an engraved ink impression from the engraved roll to the offset roll. The operation of the counter and this switch will be described presently.

The gang control selector operator 110 also moves a common contact plate for a regular switch S4 and a border-print switch S5 in a line from the switch S1 to the solenoid 97 of the reversing valve 96 for the main power motor 50. A switch S6 is in series with the switch S5 and is operated by a counter which controls printing, that is, the engagement of the oifset roll 21 with the web on the impression roll 22. This counter will also be described presently.

FIG. 13 shows the offset roll 21 to be provided with a single inking segment pad A and to have associated with it a signal producing disk 112 provided with a single signal notch 113 for a signal input-output device 114 of a .signal producing counter 115. If a cross border is printed every other revolution of the 4 /2 rolls, a bordered 9' rug will be produced.

FIG. 14 shows an arrangement in which the otiset roll 21 is provided with two segment pads A and B and the engraved roll 20 is provided with matching engraved portions A'-and B. The shaft of the ofiset roll 21 drives a timing disk 118; either directly or through a chain 119 and suitable sprockets. For the front and rear ends of the pads A and B, the disk 118 is provided with an inner circular set of Ink signal openings A-I-1, A-I-2, B-I-1, BI2 for controlling inking by a signal input-output device 120 and also is provided with an outer circular set of signal Print openings A-P-1, AP'2,' BP1,'B P-2 for controlling printing by a signal input-output device 121. The device 120 is connected with an inking timing counter 122 and the device 121 is connected with a printing timing counter 123.

OPERATION (A) Regular printing closed as long as switch S1 remains closed. Valve 103 is shown in open position in FIG. 7; in FIGS. 8-12 it is shown in closed position.

The solenoid 99 for the valve 98 of the auxiliary motor cylinder 88 is de-energized (because of the gap at S2) and fluid pressure is imposed on the rod end of the cylinder 88 to keep the right hand end of the offset roll cradle 43 in its lower position.

Switch S4 is in closed position to energize the solenoid 97 of valve 96 for the main motor cylinder 50. Pressure fluid flows to the rod end of the main power cylinder 50, as shown in FIG. 8, and lowers the piston and, with it the offset roll 21, into contact with the other rolls, fluid flowing from the head end of the cylinder directly to tank T.

The cylinder device 92 has no effect for the following reason: pressure fluid flows from the valve 96 to the line 101 and flows through the check valve 102 and line 100 to the cylinder 50.' Assume that the check valve opens at a pressure of 65 psi. This means that fluid pressure from valve 96 is exerted on both sides of the piston in the cylinder 92; but the pressure on the head end is greater than on the rod end by the amount of 65 p.s.i., valve 103 being closed; and there is no action by the cylinder device 92.

The ink switch S3 and the print switch S6 of the counter may operate but they are not in circuit and will have no effect.

At the end of the run, switch S1 opens and the parts revert to the FIG. 7 idling position with the offset cylinder held clear above the engraved and impression cylinders.

It is thus seen that the auxiliary equipment which has been added has no effect on regular printing operations, the power device 50 operating in the usual. manner.

(B) Border skip printing Gang switch operator 110 is moved to close switches S2 and S5.

Solenoid 99 of valve 98 will be energized when Ink" switch S3 is closed-and it is shown in closed position (FIG. 9).

Solenoid 97 of valve 96 will be de-energized because Print switch S6 is open at this time ('FIG. 9).

STAGE 1, FIG. 9

Valve 103 is closed and will remain closed as long as switch S1 is closed, so this valve may be assumed to remain closed and may be disregarded in all further discussion of skip printing operations.

Valve 98, being shifted by its solenoid 99 which is now energized through S2 and S3, will supply pressure fluid to the head end of cylinder 88 to cause the right end of cradle 43 to be raised.

There has been no action of the controls for cylinder 50 so its piston will be raised as high as the movement of piston 93 in cylinder 92 will permit by moving away from the rod end.

The offset roll cradle is held up by both cylinders 50 and 88.

STAGE 2, FIG. 10

roll but there will be no imprint because the offset roll has not been inked.

The cylinder device 92 will have no effect for the same reason as was pointed out above in connection with regular printing (A) where the closure of switch S4 produced the same condition relative to the main power device 50 as does the closure of S5 and S6, now being considered.

STAGE 8, FIG. 11 Print switch S6 opens; ink switch S3 remains closed.

The controls for cylinder 88 have not been affected, hence it will continue to hold the right end of the rocker in raised position.

Theopening of S6 de-energizes solenoid 97 and valve 96 returns to normal position.

Pressure fluid from valve 96 flows to the head end of cylinder 50 and raises its piston and the left end of the rocker.

However, fluid flowing from the rod end of cylinder 50 is trapped, insofar as flow to the tank side of valve 96 is concerned, check valve 102 being shut against the return side and valve 103 being closed; so return fluid flows into the rod end of cylinder 92 to move the piston over until the stop 95 halts its movement. Fluid is free to flow out from the head end of cylinder 92 to the valve 96 and tank.

This limits the upward movement of the piston in the cylinder 50 to a position where the left end of the cradle is raised only just enough to clear the offset roll from the impression roll.

The offset roll is now held clear of both the engraved roll and the impression roll.

STAGE 4, FIG. 12

Ink switch S3 opens. Print switch S6 remains open.

The result of this is that the right hand end of the cradle is lowered to engage one of the pad segments of the offset roll with an ink-coated engraved segment of the engraved roll to pick up an ink impression on the segment of the offset roll.

It is here to be noted that there are low spaces or gaps in the rubber covering of the offset roll; that the raised segment on the engraved roll will be circumferentially longer than the raised pad segment on the offset roll; and that the timing is so arranged that the engraved segment arrives and leaves the nip at a low space between offset roll segment pads. This avoids scuffing the raised pad segments on the offset roll by the action of engaging the engraved roll segments. Of course, the ink-coated engraved area of the engraved roll will fall fully on the raised pad segment of the offset roll.

STAGE 6, FIG. 11, FIG. 10

The next action, an intermediate stage corresponding to FIG. 11, is that the ink switch S3 closes and the cylinder 88 acts to raise the right-hand end of the cradle;

.but since the left-hand end is being held up by cylinder 50 there is no action. The offset roll is clear of both other rolls as shown in FIG. 11.

After this, the next action is the closure of print switch S6. This brings the parts to the condition shown in FIG. 10.

The cylinder 50 allows the left end of the cradle to be lowered and the offset roll is brought against the web on the impression roll to make a printing impression on the web.

The action which occurred is as follows: when solenoid 97 was energized and valve 96 reversed, fluid from the head end of cylinder 50 could flow directly to tank. Pressure fluid from the valve 96 was admitted to line 101 and acted on the head end of cylinder 92 to force the piston back to the rod end and force fluid therefrom back into the rod end of cylinder 50 to force the piston down. Since check valve 102 is spring loaded toward closed position, the pressure on the head end of piston 93 is greater than on the rod end and it is forced to return to the rod end. Moreover, the pressure exerted on the head end of piston 93 acts through it to increase the pressure on the rod end and hence on the valve 102 to keep it closed. Besides, the Weight of the offset roll tends to force the piston in cylinder 50 downward to admit fluid to the rod end. If needed, more fluid could flow through the check valve 102 from the line 101.

Continued border printing Thereafter, as the ink and print counters alternately close and open at the predetermined count for which the counters 122 and 123 are set, the positions of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 will be repeated in the order FIG. 12 (ink),

9 FIG. 11 (clear), FIG. 10 (print), FIG. 11 (clear), FIG. 12 (ink), and so on.

The printing action always follows promptly after the inking action even when there is a long count or skip for long rugs between printing actions.

It is contemplated that the counters 122 and 123 will be of a type known on the market as Veeder-Root counters, or the equivalent, which operate the switch at the high count for which the counter is selectively set and then drop back to zero and shift the switch at the count of one (1) on the next up-count. The counters shown indicate a capacity of a maximum count of twenty (20) and since there is a count of four (4) for each revolution of the offset roll (A-1start of segment A; A-2end of segment A; B1start of segment B; and B2-end of segment B) the counters will accommodate for a skip length of five revolutions or a web length of twenty-two and one-half (22 /2) feet.

It may be well to note here that the ink counter is always initially set up two units in advance of the print counter to be sure that a pad always passes the inking nip before it reaches the printing nip.

The signal input-output devices may be of various known types, such as sonic-electric, photo-electric, and the like. The ink switch S3 will be actuated by the ink counter 122 and the print switch S6 will be actuated by the print counter 123.

FIG. 15 is a disk face diagram to illustrate the positions of the holes or slots in the disks relative to the segment pads on the offset roll and the nominal positions of the beams (of light, sound, etc.) through the holes for a representative speed of the rolls and a minimum travel of the ends of the cradle. Necessarily, the pressure of the fluid used in the cylinders 50 and 83 will affect the speed of action. By making the travel distance very short the pressure and impact can be minimized while still realizing very fast action by the shortened travel distance.

OPERATION OF THE ARRANGEMENTS OF FIGS. 13 AND 1 4 The above description of operation applies, as indicated, to an arrangement in which the skip printing means can be interposed and removed by the operation of control switches (S2, S4, S5) to shift from regular printing to skip printing.

The arrangements of FIGS. 13 and 14 provide for the permanent inclusion of the skip printing arrangements, thus simplifying the controls and allowing simple articulating power devices to be used.

The action of the arrangement of FIG. 13 has already been almost fully explained. The signal disk 112, having only one signal producing gap, gives one signal for each revolution. One signal for one revolution moves the pointer of counter 115 to position 2 to move the piston of the single power device 50 up and thereby move the transfer roll 21 toward inking position with the engraved roll 20; and the other signal for another revolution moves the pointer of the counter 115 to position 1 to move the power piston down and thereby move the transfer roll 21 toward printing position with the impression roll 22. As stated, this arrangement is limited to printing rugs 9 feet long. Obviously, if the disk 112 had two notches for operating two signal devices, using the same counter, there would be inking and printing at each revolution to print rugs 4 /2 feet long.

The action of the arrangement of FIG. 14 is more versatile than that of FIG. 13 in that two power devices, 50 and 88, are provided for the two ends of the cradle for the transfer roll 21; that a counter 122 or 123 is provided for each power device; that the signal disk 118 is provided with means to furnish separate signals to each counter; and that the disk provides a separate signal for the beginning and end of each printing segment A, B. Also there are two printing segments, hence four signals to each counter for each revolution. If the counters are set at 2 there will be inking and printing by both segments for each revolution, making 2% foot rugs; if the counters are set at 4 there will be inking and printing by one segment for each revolution, making 4 /2 foot rugs; if the counters are set at 6 there will be inking and printing by a segment for each 1 /2 revolutions, making 6% foot rugs; if the counters are set at 8 there will be inking and printing by a segment for each 2 revolutions, making 9 foot rugs; and so on.

It is thus seen that the invention provides improved means and method for printing cross borders on webs in a large range of selective lengths and for controlling the articulation stroke to obtain shorter and faster movement with less impact and damage whereby shorter length at greater roll speeds can be printed with great accuracy of registration; also that the controls provide immediate restoration to normal printing where the rolls are articulated through a greater range of printing and idling conditions.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the general scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Roll skip printing apparatus, as for printing rug cross borders on a travelling web, by rolls which turn to gether at all times, comprising in combination: a roll stand having a set of cooperating rolls, including an engraved roll, an impression roll with the web to be imprinted passing thereover, and an offset roll mounted to be articulated from and toward said engraved and impression rolls while turning in continued coordination therewith; and articulating means for moving said offset roll from and toward said engraved and impression rolls; said articulating means including, for each end of the olfset roll, a cradle pivoted at two points adjacent the nips between the offset roll and the engraved roll and impression roll respectively and supporting the oifset roll between said tWo pivot point-s; separate independently controllable power motor means for selectively moving either end of the cradle about the pivot at the other end to separate the offset roll at either nip selectively; and control means for said power motor means operated coordinately with the turning of said rolls for either placing the offset roll in engagement with both the engraved and impression rolls, or separating it from both rolls, or selectively separating it from either roll.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further charac terized in that the cradle at the end adjacent the engraved roll is mounted on its pivot at that end for lateral sliding movement relative to the engraved roll, the cradle also having vertical movement relative to its pivot at that end, said power motor means at the engraved roll end being connected directly to the end of the cradle to move it up and down relative to its pivot support but the cradle end resting on its pivot support when in its lower position, the power motor means at the impression roll end pivot of the cradle having a stroke of sufficient length to separate the offset roll from the impression roll and also by lateral sliding movement of the cradle on its othler pivot to pull the offset roll clear of said engraved ro 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that the cradle at the end adjacent the engraved roll is mounted on its pivot at that end for lateral sliding movement relative to the engraved roll, the cradle also having vertical movement relative to its pivot at that end, said power motor means at the engraved roll end being connected directly to the end of the cradle to move it up and down relative to its pivot support but the cradle end resting on its pivot support when in its lower position.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, which further includes means for adjusting the pivot of the cradle at the end adjacent the engraved roll to vary the engagement pressure of the offset roll with the engraved roll,

leaving the power'motor means at all times in control of the greater movement required to separate the offset roll from the engraved roll.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that the power motor means are fluid operated cylinder-piston motors; an auxiliary fluid cylinder, having a movable piston, connected with one end of the cylinder of the power motor which is connected to the impression roll end of the cradle; and valve means and controls therefor timed with the operation of the rolls for selectively confining fluid in said auxiliary cylinder to shorten the power motor stroke during skip printing or to by-pass said auxiliary cylinder to provide full stroke of said power motor at other times. i

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, which includes valve means and selectively settable rotation unit counting control means therefor for causing operation of the cylinder-piston power motor means connected with said auxiliary cylinder for a selective predetermined number of unit turning movements of said rolls.

7. Roll skip printing apparatus, as for printing rug cross borders on a travelling Web by rolls which turn together at all times, comprising in combination: a roll stand having a set of cooperating rolls, including an engraved roll, an impression roll with the Web to be imprinted passing thereover, and an offset roll mounted to be articulated from and toward said engraved and impression rolls while turning in continued coordination therewith; and articulating means for moving said oflset roll from and toward said engraved and impression rolls; said articulating means including, for each end of the offset roll, a cradle pivoted at two points adjacent the nips between the offset roll and the engraved roll impression roll respectively; said cradle having a sliding support on its pivot adjacent the engraved roll, controllable power motor means for moving said cradle at the impression roll end in a direction and by an amount to separate the rolls at both nips; and control means selectively operative on said power motor means for limiting its movement to an amount which will separate the rolls only at the nip adjacent the impression roll end of the cradle which is connected to said moving means.

8. Roll skip printing apparatus, as for printing rug cross borders on a travelling web at selectable multiples of a given minimum unit length which corresponds to one arcuate engraved plate segment unit on an engraved plate roll, by rolls which turn together at all times, comprising in combination, a printing roll set including an engraved roll with at least one engraved plate segment unit thereon, an impression roll, and an offset roll supported on a cradle between said engraved roll and said impression roll, separate independently controllable power motor means connected to the opposite ends of said cradle respectively, for articulating the offset roll selectively and alternately with said engraved roll to take an inked printing impression and with said impression roll to print the inked impression on a passing web, or to engage the offset roll selectively with both other rolls or to separate it from both other rolls, signal means geared with said rolls which gives a signal with the passage of each engraved plate segment unit, settable self-zeroing counter means for said power motor means which is actuated to register a unit for each unit signal produced by said signal means, said counter means being settable for multiples of the minimum unit of length whereby to cause inking and printing at selectable multiples of the unit length in continuous cyclic repetition of the counter setting.

9'. Roll skip printing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, in which a separate signal means and a separate counter is provided for each said power motor means for selectively controlling the articulating action for inking and printing.

10. Roll skip printing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which a separate signal means is provided for each end of each segment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,327 6/18 Smith 101144 2,356,058 8/44 Hunting 101-247 X 2,598,414 5/52 Morse h 101--247 X 2,756,672 7/56 George 101-144 2,789,712 4/ 57 Christensen.

2,950,674 8/60 Taylor et al. l01247 X 2,967,475 1/61 Ritzerfeld et a1 101144 X 3,099,956 8/63 Anderson et al 101-154 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT PULFREY, Examiner. 

1. ROLL SKIP PRINTING APPARATUS, AS FOR PRINTING RUG CROSS BORDERS ON A TRAVELLING WEB, BY ROLLS WHICH TURN TOGETHER AT ALL TIMES, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A ROLL STAND HAVING A SET OF COOPERATING ROLLS, INCLUDING AN ENGRAVED ROLL, AN IMPRESSION ROLL WITH THE WEB TO IMPRINTED PASSING THEREOVER, AND AN OFFSET ROLL MOUNTED TO BE ARTICULATED FROM AND TOWARD SAID ENGRAVED AND IMPRESSION ROLLS WHILE TURNING IN CONTINUED COORDINATION THEREWITH; AND ARTICULATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID OFFSET ROLL FROM AND TOWARD SAID ENGRAVED AND IMPRESSION ROLLS; SAID ARTICULATING MEANS INCLUDING, FOR EACH END OF THE OFFSET ROLL, A CRADLE PIVOTED AT TWO POINTS ADJACENT THE NIPS BETWEEN THE OFFSET ROLL AND THE ENGRAVED ROLL AND IMPRESSION ROLL RESPECTIVELY AND SUPPORTING THE OFFSET ROLL BETWEEN SAID TWO PIVOT POINTS; SEPARATE INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLABLE POWER MOTOR MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING EITHER END OF THE CRADLE ABOUT THE PIVOT AT THE OTHER END TO SEPARATE THE OFFSET ROLL AT EITHER NIP SELECTIVELY; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID POWER MOTOR MEANS OPERATED COORDINATELY WITH THE TURNING OF SAID ROLLS FOR EITHER PLACING THE OFFSET ROLL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTHE THE ENGRAVED AND IMPRESSION ROLLS, OR SEPARATING IT FROM BOTH ROLLS, OR SELECTIVELY SEPARATING IT FROM EITHER ROLL. 